Filter



Feb. 17, 1931'.

E. M. BAssLr-:R

FII TER Filed NOW., l, 1927 5 sheets-sheet l 1 ATTORNEY.

Fb. 17, 1931./ E. M. BAssLER 1,793,449

FILTER l Filed Nov. 1, 1927 5 Sheecs-Sheei'l 2 V I N VEN TOR. fda/'70 Wassler ATTORNEY.

Feb. 17, 1931.

FILTER Filed Nov. l, 1,927

E.- M. BAsSLER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Y v l l Feb. v17, 1931. E, M- BASSLER 1,793,449

FILTER Filed Nov.. 1, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 E. M. BAssLER 1,793,449

FILTER Filed Nov.- 1`, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l I N VEN TOR.

faz-'wah .71,7.i a JJZeI BY I G o o Q l1. o o A. o

ATTORNEY.

Y fit ispraotioallyimpossible to eifet filtration on-a oornnieroial Scale lwith anyforinof filter n Patented Feb. 1 7, 1931 EQWINYM. YBaissrlnn,*onWAUSAU,-Wrsoousrm illssirNonl To' D; .Jg MURRAYMANU- Ellcrrimlrof` COMPANY, or XVAUSAU, .Wisooisrm A oonronarror or Wisconsin jnppucauoa fiieanovembgri,i327. fsyerjiarNd, vzzogzge.,V

Y ,This invention relatesto A AS is. generally well'kricwri, in many i11- dustries in which the recovery or'r separation of residual solids rom'liquidepin which they are held in suspension is eii'elted by filtration,

lieretofore-available,` Without large loss of the residual'solids, due tothe afot that-,they Iare not caught by the lte'r's'f. A specific in- I stanoe of'suoli loss occurs in the'oa'se of what is known as White `Water,which theiltratelgfrointhe sheetlaying or' forming ineChani'sin'of a paper making machine, which' al Waysl contains a `oonsiderable 'quaritity of pulp, Vwhich at present runs" i:to"' Waste with the r` liquid iltrateand Vin ni'any' cases repre- 1 Y sents a large, commercial `rloss, usually Vzuferag-V 'v ,ingtfrorn toll' pounds of pulpper 1 ()00gal-I ,2U 'lons of'whitewater, or With afinahine which i lhandles from 1000 to'l200 gallonsof Waterv per 4minut-e about 3 tons of pulp in24hours.

Vl'iltrate to pass'fre'ely through it, will catchv A princ'ipalobjeotof the present inventionl llter ,pags''as they @averse :th-elti'op,,15,9615 th is to preventthisloss, by proyi-ding a ilterv screen which, lwhile permitting the liquid amuch greater percentage of the pulp or other residual Solid than any other y commercial filter of'wh'ioh I haye` 'any knowledge, thus reducing the loss 'of residual iiltrates to'w aniini-murn.

Stated generally, `the objeot of the inyen-yY `tion is'to-proV'ide ajilter screen of relatively high'eifect-iveness in operation asoonipared with present filter screens of whiohl have any knowledge@ Y Stated broadly, I attain the object of th invention as it relates to inorea'singfthe effeotivenessY in operation'ofthe' filter by the use ofa filter 'screen consisting of aplura'lity of plie-s of iilterfabrio, as wire fabric, which overlie and rest in'contaot with one another.'

. As applied in use, `filter screens embody! ingf my` invention and improyements may readily be'aclaptedto almost'apy forni o rftype of filter in Whih a filter soreen-isused. I

lofty-pe'@amenait a fr@ da,

do not, therefore, n desire, to use of my improved filter screen 1n any. par# tloular a antica tojprotet' mrSlltiIi the use' of 'myy iinproved lter' "sreen, 'when Yutilized, orfeni-` bodied inlanyforin orl'type of iltertolitfhich it be adapted.

lVh'at lx now consider to be preferable forni cured thereto so thatltlieir; ac ljaoen't,sidesV able .CQHVSYOI @nesting belts, towhich'said"filterY pans 'are seoured'in Y series; rotatablysupported sprocket' Wheels to which said chain belts areadjusted IInear'is for fljotating Said, Sprocket Wllls; fhu 'imparting movemencn @minions @rele to the fille? pans' Secureflltl1e1t0-; .fld la'n for discharging liquid to beylterediinto said Breferably, also, said filters kcomprise perforatesupporting Virearisv seouredtoltlie .underdes, ofthe filterlpans' outside qt the filter' Screens, Secured' thereto, resptrelyfadaptf .ed toreleve "Said filter` Screens .from prc- 4tcally `allk stresses to "wh'ieh, ,otherwise 'they mieli@ be.; Subj@Otely illyorifatin.-

"Vlha't I now Consider' to be va. preferable forni", 'of support iorffthis purpose` Consists of Wire screen of relatiyely largevinesh fand made of, relativelylare-and 'strong Wire.

i reerably, also, myirnproyed ilter'comprises, means. for applying Suction-'t0 the undersides ofthev lter. paris. flaring filtration,

thusfrnaterially increasing the. oapaoity'of the filter though, at the saine tinie ,'slig h tly reduc-ing its eieotiyeness inoperation, that Y.

is, theperoentage offresidual filtrate which VWijllbe recovered thereby'as compared with the iperentagefisulr filtrate recovered with i Said'f-lter 'operatingfunder' gravity alone.

In the accompanying drawings in which said filter is fully illustrated, ,i

Figurel is a side elevation of what l now consider to be a preferred form of filter embodying my invention and improvements.-

Figure-2 is a top plan view thereof.V f Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional side view thereof, substantially on'the close underlying parts; Vand v frame upon which the operative parts of the Figures 8 and 9 are enlarged, fragmentary views illustrating certain details of construction. 4

Describing the invention with particular Y reference to the drawings, the operative parts of the machine arejmounted upon a suitable frame consisting, as shown, of upright inembers 1, which are rigidly connected by longituddinal and transverse lframe members 2 anV 3.

v Considered in'detail, the construction of the frame of the machine is to a very large extent unimportant, and invention contemplates the use of any desired or approved filter may be supported.

The filter proper consists of a plurality of x what may appropriately be designated filter Y pans designated, as a Whole A, said filter pans being connected in seriesto'- a suitable conveyor consisting, as shown, of chain belts 4, adjusted to sprocket wheels 4,to whichV y saidffilter pans arejsecured. To prevent saggingof the top lap of said chain belts.' under the Weight of thelter .pans and of;

i the Yliquid to be'filtered supplied-thereto in yoperation as previously described, thetop laps of said chain belts are preferablyv supported on tracks 5 secured to the frame of the filter, said tracks preferably consisting of angle bars securedto the inner sides ofthe upright frame members 1.

The conveyor belts'4 and filter pans 'A form in effect, what may be referredto as a filter belt and for purposes of convenient reference will hereinafter be so designated.l

In the drawings, said filter belt is-designated as a whole B. Y

As shown, the filter pans are securedto the chain belts 4, bymeans of flanges 6 formedv at the lower side edges of said filterpans,

which are riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to flanged lugs 7 formed on links ofthe chain belts, said lugs 7 beingv secured to the flanges 6 substantially at the longitudinal centers of ,Y the filter pans, thus permitting the chain belts to flex freely aroundwthey sprocket Wheels 4.

'screen' a, ma

Also, to reduce friction and the power required for operating the filter proper, antifrictionrollers 8V are preferably mounted at .the connected ends of the links of said chain belt, in a usual manner. Y

Also, formed on links of the chain belts 4, intermediate the links to which the filter pans A are secured directly, are fianged lugs 9, `the length of thelinks of saidchain belt being soproportioned to the dimensionof the filter pans A lengthwise of the chain belts that, as assembled for use, the lugs 9 will be positioned directlybeneath the adjacent ends of adjacent filter pans, the relation being such that the adjacentfends of both adjacent Ypans will rest upon saidlugs 9 while said filter pans are traversing the top :lap of the conveyor` during nwhich,time the filter belt B runs on the tracks. 5.

In order to reduce the weightl of the .filter pans A, theyare preferably made of alumi- .num or other 1liglit`1netal, thus vcorrespondyingly reducing the power required for op-1V :erating the same;

The constructioi'rof the-'filter pans A` will now be described in Idetail'. However, as said filter pans arelall substantially identical in, o constructiom'onej description will suffice for all andthe "following `description is accord-` ingly inthe singular. vv A [Each ,lterpan Ay consists lof side and end walls designated, respectively, 1 0 and 11', thc

the loweredges o-f the sidewalls .11 thereof.

Secured overl the bottom of the pan, which v is Otherwise open, is a filter'screen, designated as a whole, a, consistingof a pluralityV specifically twoe-plies 11o-f suitable filter fabric, preferably wovenwire fabric, designated, respectivcly,'12 and 13, and secured to the bottom of said filter pan outside of said filter screen is a member 14, which will sustain the weight of the` water to be filtered,

supplied to and co-ntained in said pan, preventing sagging and distortion of said screen and also vpreventing injury to the filter screen by objects or parts of the filter withwhich it mightv come into Contact in operation.

Said member 14 is provided with openings l' adapted` to permit liquidV filtrate topass freely through the same. As shown, said member consists of apiece of coarse woven wire fabric, the wires of which are sufiiciently large to impart adequate strength to Ithe i structure, say about 1/8 in diameter'.

Themesh of the fabric forming the filter kind of material to be filtered, but yfor generalV purposes, Iprefer to make said filter screens from wire fabric having about 70 wires to the inch.

The filter screen a and' bottom member 14 are made of the same length as the bottom of 1' flanges, 6, by means of which thev filter pan is lsecuredtothe chain belts `4, being formed at,

vary considerably with the y Y the filter panA but'their lateral j edges terminate-inside of the chain belts 4.* y

Thephes Lof woven wire fabr1c12and 13 forming the filter screen a, are securedftothe bottom of the panA by means of bars'15 lsecured tothe bottom of the body portionof the pan adjacent to the edges of the opening therein,"preferably by means of bolts' 16,

`which extendfthrough holes formed in` said bars 15 and in the fianges at the lower edges Vofsaid pan.

Also, VVto provide fo-r drawing Ythe vfilter screen taut and: for holdin-g the` same-{seposition, a groove ,17 isforined in* l the botto-m of the filter pan entirelyarouiid v the opening therein, adaptedto receive the curely in filer screen @and the clamping bars 15; In theA preferable Construction shown', the bars 16' and groove 17 are substantially rectangular 1n cross-section.

Vith vthe described construction, it is obvious'that when the fastening screws v16 Yare tightened, they will forcethe stripsl or bars 15 into the groove 1'( together with'the portions of the filter screen a ywhich underlie saidbars, thus drawing said filter screentaut and also preventing slippingV and loosening thereof, iin the manner desired. Y Y The liquid-to'be filtered-is adapted to be supplied tothe filter pans A through holesIS formed in thebottom of 'a trough 19 Ysupported on the frame of theymachineabo-ve the top lap of the filter` belt B', to-whichgliquid to be filtered` is adaptedA to be supplied throughl a pipe 20, which con'ununicates with a suitable pump, not shown, having-suction connection with a sourcej ofAV supply. As shown,-the supply pipe 2O delivers directly into what may be called a well 21 with' which the trough 19 communiCatesl atkadistance -above the botto-1n of said well', the bottom of the trough declininggradually from said well yto'lts'outer end. y Y

VAs shown, aserles-'of holes-1S 1s formed transversely inthe botto-mof thetrouglnsaid holes being 1` preferably' arrangedE substan? tiallyequal 'distancesapart and 'increasing in size away from the well 211 To obtain' the highest efliciency in operation, it is desirable that during'.theinterval that thefiilter pans A are passing beneath the trough 19, a sufiicientquantity'of liquid tobe filtered shall -be-suppliedto saidpanslthrolugh Veach of tliefholesY 181,'t'o keep' saidpansf approximately full, but" Wit-houtf'overiowing saidpanjs; Y Toeffect this end; myfi'mproved filter preferably comprises gatesor valveslfer controlling'andlx varying"v the sizes of* said holes or opening-tosec'ure-,- aslnear asmay be,

the operating conditionsfdesired' In the' preferable construction shown, the gates or valves: whichf control said? holes 1 or: openingsC 18,'- respV ecti'veiy, consistf offplatess22 lslidfably 'supp-erleelementaren-wien theeneereiaeerthe@ I Bcttemfofftlietncgiiwilrsuchfrelatient'oithe# the next: adjacent .fren-'ti filter Heleeie, respectiva@ .that they eey be moved in opposite directions relative to the direction ofV move'ment of the filterbelt to separately open orv close said holes', either partially orffully.vv f A f p As shown, said gatesor valves'a're supported' and'guided andthe-means for operating the same are` as' follow`s:- jFQr1ned' on the'fmachine' frame at 'opposite 'sides ofthe lfilter belt B, aregro'ovesf28fto' which the ends of the platesv forming-'said gates for" valves are slidably'iitted. As shown, said grooves are formed byfthe spaced, overlapping sides-or faces of angle bars 24an`d 25 secured to rigid parts of the machine" members 1. f

j -Secur'edeto the undersides-'of said-gates te' the frame t or valves, respectively, adjacent to opposite lateralr edgesv thereof, are' rack bars 26, vwhich respectively intermesh i with Vpiriions "27 sel cured to shafts 28 rotatablyfinounted, respectively', in fbearings onf'the machine frame, which are adapted to be turned inopposite directionsefto open orclose saidY gates or valves, as the case may lie-by handlesV 29 se- -cured in heads 30 spect-ively'; f

With the described construction, iit vis, ,ob-H

secured to. 'said-f' shafts revious thatthe gates orvalve's'22 arid-'- thus the sizes of the holes or' openings -1`8"maybe sepa- A mehr adj-Usted t@ secureeny epe-'rating rielation desired. a

Ae' the fneeebeit B -eeeeee beneath the @en-` 'j p 19 the operation of the filter, itis obvliousjthlat'liquidto b'e'ltered' ings 18* in the ytrough will `be discharged into the filter ljtialns'A through said openings, whence-,itv will-y drain 'through ythe'filt'er screens' a;A andf the bettom members 14, the residual"filtrate'beingf caught by and heldupon the' filter scree`I,1"s',-'from'v 5731;' Y

which rit is Vlater Vremoved by; anysuitablo means,- as present-ly'k described. v

to flow: downwardly through'f'any spaces which may be formed between-the adjacent walls ofadj-acent filter*pains.V Tof'prevent this, means are preferably provided' forfsea'l-l olined surfaces 32 formed on the`1 fi'o'ntwalls I!- 1'1' of said lterpans, respectively, the free Obviously, asltheend wal-ls 11' offv the filter -pans' A pass Vunderfthe opei'iingse18,A water discha-rge'd'through said'ope'niii'z'gs will tend 1;

in Contact with] correspondingly" in'c'lined eur-faces? 33' ferme@ the rear-end wens-ef Y pans; reepecl tiveiy; i As= slrewn, the: eubbeir elempedl leetw'eenf-vtie` incljnjedfl s the end walls 11 Aand bars'S by'iriea `Se 'pest are .ning to waste, the side walls of said filter pans are made higher than the end walls 11 structed and arranged. to form sharp angular surfaces, as shown at 36, which will operate in an obvious manner, to prevent splashing of the Water and also to deliver the liquid to be Vfiltered into filter pans between which said surfaces are positioned.V Y j (Also, to prevent theliquid to be filteredydischarged into vthe fil-ter pans A from the trough 19 through the holes 18V-from overflowing the sides of said filter pans and runthereof, asshown at 37 corresponding ends of said extensions-as shown the front endsprojecting frontwardly beyond the front walls 11 of the filter pans and being ,off-set to overlap the rear ends of the upwardly extending side walls ofthe next adj acentzfront filter pan, when the filter v,belt B is traversing the top-lap of its cycle, all as shown at 38. The adjectives front and,rear as applied'to the filter pans A and the walls thereofhave reference to the direction of movement of the filter belt B, But, as applied to the lfilter generally, front designates .the end of thefilter at-which theliquidto be filtered is supplied, and rear the Yopposite .i end. thereof.

ably at a distance above the bottom thereof,

is a pipe 40 adapted'for connecting said pan with a pump, not shown, thereby providing for maintaining'-aVya-cuumv in said pan which will operate, in an obvious manner, to increase the flow of liquidthrough the filter screens a, as compared with thecapacity of said filterY operating under gravity alone.

Liquid filtrate is adapted to be dischargedV from the'pan 39 through a discharge pipe 41 which communicates therewith substantially at the apex of they angle defined by the converging bottom and rear end wall of said tank. j Y t For purposes of convenient reference, the pan 39 will hereinafter be referred to as a vacuum pan.'

I desire itto be understood, however, that my invention contemplates operating the filter under gravity alo-ne insteadv of with suction, in which case the pan 39 will operate merely to catch kthe liquid filtrate from the filter, which is discharged therefrom through the discharge pipe 41 in the samemanner as when suction is used.

As shown, the lower end Aof the discharge pipe islclosedbyva water seal consisting-of a well 42 into which said pipe discharges, said well being provided with a discharge opening or connection 43 positioned above the lower end lof said4 discharge pipe,` thus preventing the admission ofair to said discharge pipe. Obviously, b'y making the discharge pipe 41 of considerable length, a head of water-will be maintained therein, the weight of which will operate to maintain a vsubstantially constant vacuum in the pan 39.

To `izrevent leaka 'e of air into the vacuum pan V39, means are provided for sealing the spaces between the upper-edges of said vacuum tank and the bottom of the filter belt B; and also for closing the'spaces between adj acent lter pans closely adjacent to their bottoms.

As shown, the means for sealing the spaces Abetween the-,upper edges of theside wallsof the vacuum pan 39 and the filter belt, consists of strips of rubber 44 securedto the side wallsof said vacuumtank, the free upper edges of which are adapted to contact with the undersides of the flanges 6 formed on the lower edgesof the'side walls 10 of the filter pans A, between the lateral edges of the filter screen a secured-to said filter pans and the chain belts 4, as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

1 In likemanner, the spaces between the upperedges-ofthe yfrontand rear end walls of said vacuum pan and the bottoms of the filter pans A, are sealed by relatively long and flexible strips yof rubber 45 and 46 securedto the upper edges of the front and rear end walls, respectively, of the vacuum pan,

said strips of rubber being proportioned to fit snugly betweenA the rubber strips 44 secured to the side walls of said vacuum pan and their free ends .being disposed rearwardly from the end walls of the vacuum pan to which they are secured, respectively, and lying in contactwith the underside of the filter belt. Obviously, in order that liquid to be f filtered, discharged into the filter pans A will drain into the vacuum pan39,it is necessary that, as thefilter pans pass the front sealing strip 45, the rear walls thereof shall pass the free end of vsaid sealing strip before their front walls pass beneath the front liquid supply opening 18.

Also, preferably, themeans for sealing the spaces between the ylower edgesy of adjacent end walls of adjacent filter pans'is as follows Formed on the front and rear end walls of said filter pans, respectively, adjacent to their lower edges, are narrow flanges 47 and 48, and secured toone ofsaid flangesas shown, tothe rear flanges 48-are rubber strips 49, the free, front ends of which extend over and rest in contact with the fianges 47 of ythe next adjacent front lter pan. As shown, the rubber strips 49 are clamped in position between the top sides of the flanges 48 andv clamping bars 50, by means of bolts .extendingthrough the same, which, as shown,

are the same bolts by'which the front and rearedges of the filter'screensa are secured to the bottoms of the filter pans. A Y

After the filter belt B has traversed. the

toplap of its cycle,.the residual filtrate deposited on the lilter screens a is removedtjherefrom.l This may bedone inf asimplemanner,` either by discharging sprays of liquid against the outer sides of the bottoms. of the filter pans when they are in substantially in-` vertedposition, as when'they reach the posi-A tion of the pan designated- A, Fig. 1,*said .liquid spray operating to Wash vthe 'residual filtrate from the filter screen a, thuscleans ing said filter screensV and restoring their'originall efficiency; or, if it is desired-'toremove the residual filtrate in a relatively dry state, it may be removed from the Aiiltervscreens by subjecting the'outer sides of the bottoms o'f the filter pans to air pressure sufficient-to blow the residual filtrate ofi Vfrom Vsaid iilter screens. Y

Simple' means for discharging liquid sprays against theriilterv beltconsists of a header -1, see particularly vvFigs. land 4f,

supported between the sprocket wheels 4 at therear endof the machine, atthe inner side of and closely adjacentV to4 the 'iilter belt where'it diverges from the undersides of the sprocket wheels 4', where thevfilter.A pans rl Vare in* substantiallyfupside-down position.

The header 51-is connected with anysuitable sourcev ofsupplyof liquidi under pressure,

' vnot shown, bya pipe 52v and secured in opentiveness.

As shown,'also, the mea-'ns forfremo'ving residual filtrate from the filter screensjcomprises a box-shaped receptacle 54; 'supported on the frame of the machine inside of the filter belt B. The bottomofj said receptacle is open and is positioned closely vadjacentv Ato theinnerside-.of the filter bel`t,thes paces betweenthe side and end walls'of-4 said receptavole -being sealed'lby rubber" strips secured thereto and thefree ends-'of which Ycontact with the bottoms of the Vfilter pans Agallsubstantiallyrin the same mannerras in the case ,i of the vacuum pan' heretofore described.

',Thefiinterior of the chamber formed by Y :thereceptacle 54 isadaptedto be connected Ycsi Wh-ELSUICGolf supply-of airunder pressure, not 'shownQbyfa plpe=55-V Y v ing strips on saidipressure receptacle 'or chamber tgwith; the'iilterbelt B, means are pro yidedf for supporting the lower lap of Yfsaid filterfbelt beneath saidV pressure "chamber-L'-- -2 `As -v Also,.'toj insureproper' 'contactl of' the 'seal-V V-shown, said supportingmeans` consists of idlel rollers 56 rotatablymountedon anglev bars' 57 secured tothe machine frame atopposites'ides 'Y s of thefilter beltzinY position so kthat the sides of the iianges ,6 opposite to the side thereof to which the filter screens aaresecured, will `run uponand be supported bysaidfrollers as the i filter beltV passes' beneathl said pressure chamber.

With the described coi'istriiction', itobvii' ons that the residual filtrate may bev removed from the filterv screenseither by water sprays Onair pressure, as maybe desired..

. The residual filtrate dislodged from the filter beltB may be caught and disposed of"V by vany' usual or desired means and can readily be supplied byskilled mechanics and neednot, therefore, be shownor described in detail. Y

Rotation is adapted to be imparted to the rear sprocket whe-els lfby means of Vsuitable driving connections `between they shaftv on which said sprocketwheels are mounted and asuitablesource of power.

ns Shown, Said. Shaft is driven by an electric;

motor, indicated` at 58,` the-shaft of Vwhich is coupled directly! to the worm: of av worm i s gear, the worm Vof which is secured to a shaft .i

59` rotatably mountedinsuitable.bearingsin l the casingGOfof said-worm gear, said sprocket wheel shaft being driven direct. fromV the i.

worm shaft 59 by'means 'ofachain belt 6ll adjusted to sprocket wheels 62and613 secured .tosaid worm shaft and topthesp'rocket wheel shaft, respectively.

I claim.:

l. In a filter, theclornbinationiofa plural- .Y

ity. of vlilter Vvpans. having; imperforate zside andY yend walls .andv an open.v bottom, a filter' screen secured in the openV bottom of 'each ing said'filter pans inseries.\ Y Y k2. A filter .as specified in claim l,y in which the filter'screens of Vthefilterpans, respecthereof,` and means for connecting-and'feedtively, consist ofva pluralityiof plies Voflilter los fabric, the adjacent sides of adjacent plies vof whiehcontact withV one another.

3. A l'ilter as specified in claim l, which also comprises means for drawing ,the iilter screens ,tautfcomp'rising`- grooves formed in the bottomsyofthe 'bodyfportionsfof thegiilter Y vpansV surrouridingtheV openings in the fbottoms thereof, respectiuelypanclybars secured insaid grooves outside ofthe filter screens.j

' Y 4. Avffilter as-specifiedinclaim 1,'in .which the body; portions'v .ofthe pans,v respectively,

comprise laterally-projecting iiangesatuthe Y ylower.,.edges of their, side walls arrangedfor makingconyeyor attachments totheir unfderfV vsides.,..;` Y Y 5. A filter as pansare connected'. I

specified in claim 1,inl which v themeans for connecting andgfeeding the'iilter- Vv pans"comprises` rotatable members, and

Abelts adjusted @thereto .to which? said"VV filter izo,

A of said filter pans, respectively. j

. A filter as specified in claim 1; in which the means for connecting and feeding the filter pans comprises rotatable Vmembers,l and belts adjusted thereto to which said filter pans are connected, Vthe points of attachment of said'filter pans tosaidb'eltsbeing positioned substantially in the transverseV centre `lines 7. A filter a-s-specified in claim 1, in which the means for connecting and feedingthe filter pans comprisessprocket wheels rotatably mounted in pairs both longitudinally and transversely, and chain belts adjusted to said longitudinally arranged pairs of sprocket wheels to which said filter pans are secured. i

8. A filter as specified'iii claim 1, which comprises means to prevent leakage between adjacent walls'of adjacentfilter pans.`

9. A filter as specified in claim-1,'which comprises means to prevent leakage between adjacent walls of adjacent filter pans comprising a strip'of suitable flexible material secured to an end wall of one of said filter pans and which extends over and rests in contact with the adjacent endV wall of they 'ad- V- jacent filter pan. v

secured to l av l the side walls of the `10. A filter as specified claim 1j which comprises means to prevent leakage between adjacent' walls of adjacent filter pans, Vcoinprising a strip of suitableflexible material secured to an end wall of one :of said filter pans iny inclined position and which extends over and rests in contact with the adjacent end wall of the adjacent filter pan.

11. Afilteras specied in claim r1, which comprisesmeans to prevent leakage between adjacent wallsof adjacent filter pans, comprising a strip of suitable flexible material secured to an-inclined surface on-an end wall of one of said filter pans and which' extends over and rests incontact with a correspondingly inclined surface on the adjacent wall of the adjacent filterpaii.

end

12. A filter as specified in-claiin 1, which comprises means to prevent leakage between Y adjacent walls of adjacent filterpans, comprising a strip of'suitable'flexible material Y downwardlyj and frontwardly inclined surface-formed onthe front walls Vof said Vfilter pansfrespectively, vand which extendsV over and'iestsin contact with correspondinglyinclined surfaces on theadjacentV end walls of adjacent filter pans.v

13.161 filter as specified inclaim 1; which comprises means to Vprevent leakage-'between Vadjacent walls 'of ladjacent filter pansrconkrstructedv and arranged.'toform surfaces -at i Ythe tops o-f end walls of the filter pans which are angulariii cross-section andthe sides of which diverge downwardly. g f

'14. A filter as specified in claim 1,inwhich filter vpans extend rabove the end walls thereof. s V- f A 15. A filter as specified'in claim 1, in which Vpans. Y 17.*In va filterthe combination of a plu-v thereffioin,v a pipe adapted for connecting said A pan 1 withY suction nieans l pipe fromsaid pan, and means for sealingthe Y spaces between the upper edges of the pan and the bottoni of the filter belt and between the ay .water discharge lower edges 'of the end walls of adjacent filter rality of filter pans, theV bottom of each of which Ycomprisesva filter screen, means for connecting and feeding said filter pans in continuousseries, a pan which underlies the portion of said series of filter pans Aat/which filtration occurs adapted to catch the liquid filtrate therefrom, .a pipe adapted for: connecting said pan with suction means, a water.

discharge pipe from said pan, and means for sealing the spaces between, the upper edges of the pan and the bottoml of the filter belt, y

said sealing means comprising strips of suitable material secured to theupper-edges of the sidewallsof thefva'cuum pan the upper edges of which contactr with the'bottoms cf the same outside j ofthe filter screens thereof.` i

the filter pans passing over 18., In a filterythe combination of a plural- 4ity of filter pans,lthebottom of' each. of which comprises afilterscreen, means for connectingand feeding said filter pans in continuous series,' a pan which underlies the portion ofsaidfseries of filter pans at which filtration occurs adapted tocatch the 'liquid' filtrate therefrom, a'pipe adapted for connecting said pan with suction means, pipefrom said pan', and means 'forsealing 1the spaces between the upper edges of the pan and the bottom-of the filter belt,said sealing means'comprising strips of suitable 'flexible material secured to the front and rear endl walls of the kfilter pans which` extend a short ldistance rearwardly from said walls, respectively, and the. free ends of which contact with the bottoms', of` the filter pans as' they pass overgthe same. Y, Y f f Y j the combination of a pluralityjoffilter pans, the bottoml of each ofwhich 'comprises a filter. screen, ineansfor connect- 19.L In a filter,

ing and feeding said filter pans in continuous series, a pan whichunderlies 'the portionA ofv said cseries ofiiltenpans :atfwhich filtration occurs adapted to fcatch the ,liqu'i'd'filtrate 1 therefrom, a pipeadapted forconnecting said pan Vwith suction ^means5 a fwaterf discharge pipefromsaid.-pan7V and means" for sealing j the spaces between theupper edges ofthe a `water discharge i pan and the bottom of the filter belt, said sealing means consisting of strips of suitable material secured to the upper edges of the side Walls of the vacuum pan the upper edges -of which contact with the bottoms of the fil-` ter pans passing over the same outside of the filter screens thereof, and strips of suitable flexible material secured to the front and rear end Walls of the lter pans Which extend aA short distance rearwardly fromsaid walls, v

respectively, and the free ends of which con tact With the bottoms of the filter pans as they pass the same` and Which fit closely between the strips of material secured tothe l upper edges of the side Walls of the vacuum f Y pen- Y 20.l In a filter, the combination of a plurality of filter pans, the bottom of each of Which ycomprises ai filter screen, means for connect-` ing and feeding said filter pans in continuous series, a pan Which underlies the portion of Y l' said series of filter pans at Which filtration occurs adapted to catch the liquid filtrate therefrom a i e ada ted for connectin said, Y .a

pan with suctlon means, a Water dlscharge pipefrom said pan, and means for sealing the spaces between the adjacent end Walls of adjacent filter pans, comprising shoulders Vformed thereon, respectively, anda stripvof V 'suitableflexible material secured to a shoulder onk each of said filter pans which extends over and rests in Contact With the shoulderV on the adjacent end Wall ofthe adjacent' filter pan.

t V21'. In aifilter, the combination of a plurality of filter pans, the bottom of each of which comprises a filter screen, means for connecting and feeding said'filter pans in continuous series, a pan which underlies the portion of said series of filter Vpans at which filtration occurs adapted to catch the liquid filtrate therefrom, a pipe adapted for connecting said pan lWith suctionlmeans, a Wat-er discharge pipe from said pan, and means for sealing the spaces between adjacent end Walls of adjacent filter pans, comprisingshoulders i' and a strip of of October, 1927.

EDWINVM. BAssiiiin. f

Y invention. I afx my signature this 24th day 

